Mancini: City´s time is now

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini believes it is time his side start winning trophies – beginning this Saturday.

Mancini’s side tackle Stoke City in the FA Cup final at Wembley as they attempt to break a 35-year trophy drought.

“I think we have achieved history by qualifying for the Champions League. This is very important for Manchester City,” Mancini said.

“I think it is time that Manchester City win a title and the FA Cup is a very important title – it is important we start to do this.”

City midfielder Patrick Vieira said his side are under pressure heading into the match, but hopes to win the trophy for the club’s long-suffering fans.

“We feel under pressure because we are a good side and we know how strong we are as a team and we want to be successful. So, every single game will be pressured,” Vieira said.

“We want to be successful because we don’t want to go through the season without achieving our target to finish in the top four – that is what we did last Tuesday against Spurs. We are proud about that.”

“Now we play the FA Cup final and we hope to win it for the fans, ourselves, the club and all the people who have been working around the team.”

But Stoke, who are entering their first-ever final of the oldest football competition in the world, will also be just as eager to win the trophy and may benefit from the fact they will enter the match as underdogs.

“I think if anybody said at the beginning of the season that we’d get to a cup final, they would have smiled to themselves and would have said, ‘That’s just dreams’,” Stoke boss Tony Pulis said.

“But that’s what the FA Cup is about, it’s about dreams. We’ve got a massive game and I’ve been and watched City a couple of times. They’re a very good side. They’ve got excellent players, they’re not far short of breaking into that top group.”

“I know they’re in the top four at the moment, but I’m talking about being behind Chelsea and Manchester United, who have been winning things for the last five or six years. Next year I’m sure they’ll move up that extra gear so we know how difficult it’s going to be.”

“We know what sort of task we’re facing, but the players are determined to go there and enjoy it. We’re determined to make sure the players are relaxed and the supporters have a great day.”

Robert Huth and Matthew Etherington will be the subject of late fitness tests prior to the match, with both vital in Stoke’s hopes of victory.